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Standard Comics

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"Better Publications" redirects here. For the pulp magazine publishing company, see Thrilling Publications.
Standard Comics
Parent companyPines Publishing
StatusDefunct, 1956
Founded1936
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationNew York City
Publication typesComic books
Fiction genresSuperhero
ImprintsBetter Publications
Nedor Publishing
Pines Comics

Standard Comics was a comic book imprint of American publisher Ned Pines, who also published pulp magazines (under a variety of company names that he also used for the comics) and paperback books (under the Popular Library name). Standard[1] in turn was the parent company of two comic-book lines: Better[2] and Nedor Publishing[3] Collectors and historians sometimes refer to them collectively as "Standard/Better/Nedor".[4][5]

History

In business from 1939 to 1956, Standard was a prolific publisher during the Golden Age of comic books. Its best-known character, initially published under the Better imprint, is the Black Terror. In June 1949, the Better and Nedor imprints were consolidated as the Standard Comics line, with a "Standard Comics" flag-like cover logo. The titles previously had no publisher logo. In 1956, Standard ended, and only two titles continued, published by Pines Comics. This last venture also incorporated several titles from the defunct St. John Publications. Most titles went to other publishers after the company folded in 1959.

Beginning in the 1980s, Standard/Better/Nedor characters have been revived by other publishers. Publisher Bill Black used many of them in his 1980s imprint Americomics (later shortened to AC Comics). Many of the female heroes are members of the AC Comics superhero team Femforce.[6] In the 2000s, Standard/Better/Nedor characters have appeared in writer Alan Moore's comic book series Tom Strong and its spin-off Terra Obscura. (Marvel Comics used the names American Eagle, Grim Reaper, and Wonder Man for its own, different characters.)

The eight-issue comic book miniseries Project Superpowers #0–7 (Jan.–Oct. 2008), published by Dynamite Entertainment,[7] resurrected a number of Golden Age superheroes, including those originally published by Fox Feature Syndicate, Crestwood Publications, and Standard/Better/Nedor, many of which are assumed to be in the public domain but may not be.[8]

Titles

Main article: List of Standard Comics publications

Superheroes

References

  1. ^ Standard at the Grand Comics Database.
  2. ^ Better at the Grand Comics Database.
  3. ^ Nedor Publishing at the Grand Comics Database.
  4. ^ "Standard/Better/Nedor". AC Comics. 2001. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  5. ^ "Standard / Better / Nedor". An International Catalogue of Superheroes. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010.
  6. ^ "Golden Age Reprints Intro". AC Comics. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  7. ^ Project Superpowers at the Grand Comics Database. Retrieved on June 26, 2018.
  8. ^ Gorman, Cash. "Copyrights and Comics of 1940s". Golden-Age Comic Book Superheroes & Villains Encyclopedia. Cash Gorman. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  9. ^ Supermouse, The Big Cheese at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018.
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